Kenny will manage the U-21s and oversee the other youth teams before taking over the seniors in 2020

Kelly has kept track of Kenny’s career since and feels he deserves his chance as Ireland Under-21 manager now — and as the replacement to Mick McCarthy with the senior set-up after Euro 2020.

The ex-Spurs and Fulham man said: “That was my only experience working with him. He was a young coach then, Brian brought him along.

“He was a breath of fresh air, his coaching, tactics, the way he went about things, he took a lot of sessions and we did well under him.

“I presume he’s progressed over the last 20 years, I presume he’s come on. You can see what he’s done at Dundalk, what he has done there has been exemplary. To get him into the Under-21 set-up, it could be a bit of a masterstroke.

Kelly was in town to launch the Euro 2020 Street Football Legends programme in action on Aughrim Street

“Obviously, having Mick in charge now is great as well, to steady the ship a bit and get football back up to a level where everybody is happy.

“But going forward, Stephen could be the man for the next generation.”

Kelly believes that McCarthy’s reappointment following the departure of Martin O’Neill is the right call now given his track record.

He added: “Anybody who is going to come in and knows how to get the best out of a group of players, how to get us organised and have us set up in the right way, understands the Irish public, is already liked by the Irish public . . . Mick was probably the perfect candidate.

“Because the tournament is going to be held in Dublin, or some of it — for us not to be in that, it would be dreadful. It would be a missed opportunity for Irish football.

“Mick knows it, he knows what to do, what’s he’s done at Ipswich on a shoestring budget, he’s been able to have a lot of success there.”

Meanwhile, Kelly, 35, would still like to play again if the right offer came along. But, for now, he is happy spending time with his family, doing media work and preparing to undertake the Pro Licence coaching course.

He has not played since leaving Rotherham United in 2017 but says he has not made up his mind to retire.

Kelly said: “I haven’t played for a year so some people probably think I have retired. Listen, the thing is I’m not actively looking for a club but I’d still play. I still feel like I could
play.